News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
The Switzerland County School Board gave the final approval of middle school plans at their meeting Monday evening — clearing the way for bids to be let by the end of August. John Lindstaedt of the Partenheimer Group took the board members through a series of drawings of how the new building will be designed, going through such items as electrical systems, heating and cooling, and both interior and exterior construction. Steve Green, who represents construction consultant Toth-Ervin, was also on hand, and stated that the new drawings incorporated as much of the needed space as possible without taking the project over the set budget.
Carrie Willis, co-owner of the Bottom Line Music store in Vevay, will be traveling to Forrest, Mississippi on August 1st to record an album. Seventh Avenue, the band Carrie is a member of, will be recording an album of their contemporary gospel songs, which is expected to be released around the week of Thanksgiving.
20 YEARS AGO
Robert D. Slawson, 85, long time owner of the Slawson Transfer Company and one of the county’s most influential citizens, passed away last Wednesday at the Clifty Falls Convalescent Center in Madison. Slawson’s trucking company did all of the hauling for the Kroger Company in Cincinnati and Louisville during the late 1920’s and the early 1930’s, as well as hauling loads for the Bruck’s Beer company in Cincinnati. Slawson operated the Vevay Auto Company here for over 50 years. His final endeavor, the Slawson Implement Company, closed only two years ago. He was a 1920 graduate of Vevay High School.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lockwood of East Enterprise will observe their 70th wedding anniversary on July 28th. Mr. Lockwood is 92 years old and Mrs. Lockwood will celebrate her 89th birthday on July 27th.
30 YEARS AGO
Lorrie Carfield, 16-year-old daughter of James and Phyllis Carfield, of Pleasant Township, was selected Queen of Switzerland County’s 1975 4-H Fair Monday night as a crowd that packed the 4-H Community Building looked on. Jama Aldred, 17, of Mount Sterling, was first runner-up and Chris Works, 17, of near East Enterprise, was second runner-up.
The Switzerland County School Board hired an assistant to the superintendent Monday night, achieving a couple of “firsts” in the process. For one thing, it’s the first time the Switzerland County school system has had an assistant to its top administrator. For another, it’s the first time — at least in recent history — the school system has employed a man with a doctor’s degree. That man is Dr. Tom Coffman, who earned the degree of doctor of education from Indiana University in 1974. He will begin his duties — which include directing all federally-funded programs and all curriculum matters for the elementary schools — on July 21st, officially.
Dorman G. Hysell, 37, was killed Friday evening when he was struck by a truck while riding horseback along state road 129 near his home two miles north of Pleasant.
David W. Paugh of Vevay is one of 872 Ball State University students named to the Registrar’s Roll of Honor for the spring quarter at Ball State. Paugh, a junior, is the son of Mrs. Mary Paugh, R.R.3, Box 260.
40 YEARS AGO
Bonnie Schandling and Davis Jones were Switzerland County’s top 4-H Club members this summer and were awarded the club’s outstanding achievement awards Saturday night as the county 4-H Fair came to a close.
Dorman G. Hysell and Carol Ann Demaree, both of Florence, were married in a double-ring ceremony July 16th at the residence of the residence of the officiating minister, the Reverend Frank M. Reed of Vevay.
The marriage of Miss Linda Lou Roberts, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Loren Roberts of Vevay, to Robert Samuel Boyd, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Boyd of St. Joseph, Illinois, was solemnized Sunday, July 11th, in the Chapel at Indiana University.
Miss Martha Ann Beach, daughter of James Thomas and Christine Woods Beach of rural route 1, Vevay, and Roger Allen Wolf, son of Norman C. and Wilma Ambrose Wolf of rural route 2, Madison, were united in marriage July 10th at Macedonia Baptist Church by their pastor, the Reverend C. Dee Birdwell.
50 YEARS AGO
Mrs. C. Krummel has leased her restaurant on Main Street to Mr. and Mrs. Wilmer Wallick of near Center Square and they will take possession on Monday. Mrs. Wallick will manage the restaurant and she will be assisted by her sister, Mrs. Harry Washmuth, of Fairview.
The interior of the Vevay Post Office is being redecorated and all of the rooms are receiving a coat of paint which will present an attractive appearance, the work being done by Harry Weales. The building is owned by the Edwin C. Danner Post of the American Legion.
Reverend and Mrs. Kenneth Moneymaker will move next week to Eldon, Missouri, where Reverend Moneymaker has accepted the pastorate of the Nazarene Church. At the present time his successor to the Vevay Nazarene has not been appointed.
Presley Earls of Vevay is confined to bed at his home here by a broken leg he sustained when he jumped from the rear of a truck.
60 YEARS AGO
Born, July 7, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Herschel Gullion, of Vevay Route 2.
Twin daughters were born Wednesday evening, July 11, to Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Lewis on Splinter Ridge. They have been named Mary and Martha.
Staff Sergeant Elmo Rayles, of East Enterprise, and Miss Betty Lock, of Vevay, were united in marriage, Saturday afternoon, July 14, by Reverend B. T. Vincent of the Madison Baptist Church.
Miss Louise McKinney, of the Caledonia neighborhood, and Merrill Stoneking, of Osgood, were married at the home of Reverend and Mrs. McClung of Moorefield, Saturday evening.
70 YEARS AGO
Miss Juanita Gieske of Vevay was united in marriage to Mr. Herman H. Layer of Lawrenceburg on July 8th.
All relief work has been suspended in Switzerland County until further notice.
Minor Bakes, owner and manager of the Hoosier Theater, has contracted for an air cooling system which will be installed at once in the theater.
The large two-story frame house on the Carl Culbertson farm in Jefferson Township was totally destroyed by fire Wednesday afternoon.
Bobby Furnish had the thrill of catching a big catfish last week.
George Lee Woodburn of Evansville and Miss Mary Nell Hughes of Carrollton, Kentucky, were married by Reverend W. A. Badgett at the Baptist parsonage here Monday.
Born, July 13, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Rimstidt of Bear Branch.
Born Tuesday, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Orville James, Lamb.
Born, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Addie Chase of Fairview.
Charles Eichler of Florence died Tuesday at his home after two years illness.
Stanley Andrew sustained a deep cut on the back of his head when he fell head first from a hay loft at the farm, of his father, Clair Andrew.
On Monday, Gary, little son of Mr. and Mrs. Sammy Leap, received a deep gash in his forehead when he came up behind, while his uncle, Harley Leap, was chopping wood and was accidentally struck by the axe. Several stitches were required to close the cut.
The river packet “John W. Hubbard” will be dismantled and sold.
Robert Curry of Vevay and Bernice Hartman of Brooksburg were awarded Purdue Scholarships.
80 YEARS AGO
The Bankers Protective Committee of Switzerland County met last week and took further steps to guard against possible loss by bandits. The names of 15 men who were selected to serve as deputy sheriffs will be announced later.
Fred Detraz has received five bear skins from his son, Henry, who lives in the Yukon Territory.
Due to ill health O. P. Courtney has sold the Switzerland Democrat to Charles E. Pendry of Ohio County, brother of James L. Pendry, County Treasurer.
Mr. Courtney has also sold his rooming house on Main Street to Charles E. Pangburn.
Announcement is made of the birth of a son on July 14 to Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Emerson of Louisville, Kentucky. He has been named Robert J., Jr.
The barn of Alf Driver from near Quercus Grove and its contents of hay and a team of horses burned to the ground last week. Cleve Mix, who lived on the farm, owned the team.
90 YEARS AGO
A tornado which killed one person and caused damage estimated at $50,000 struck Switzerland County on Wednesday night of last week. Miss Matilda Dobson, who lived at the home of Edwin Mead and his daughter, Miss Jessie Mead, on Mead’s Ridge near Patriot, was killed and Mr. Mead was seriously injured by falling debris. More than one hundred houses and barns were demolished or badly damaged and all parts of the county and neighboring counties were hard hit. Vevay was without electric current and telephone service was disrupted and it was the worst storm the county has ever known.
Miss Annie McFarland, 17, of Craig Township was hurt seriously and her sister, Frances, 18, was bruised when the horse the were driving in Vevay Saturday ran off and tipped the buggy over, throwing them against a fence.
Fire of unknown origin destroyed the store, warehouse and outbuildings of E. E. Jones in Moorefield early Sunday morning. Neighbors succeeded in saving the Jones home. Loss was estimated at $35,000.
100 YEARS AGO
Tyron Anderson has been appointed agent for the Lee Line of boats between Cincinnati and Louisville.
Ernest Holland of Vevay, who has been in charge of a boy’s school in Louisville, Kentucky, has been given an assistant professorship at Indiana University for next year. He is now traveling to Europe.
Jeanette Loomis entertained with a party Tuesday in honor of her 8th birthday.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Carpenter and daughter of Washington, D. C. are visiting C. S. Tandy and family. He is a prominent newspaper correspondent.
New baled hay is selling for $6.50 per ton.
On Monday B. C. Waldenmaier was notified of his appointment to a place in the government civil service at Washington. He has also received a flattering offer from the Santa Fe Railroad and a position in a college at Montreal, Canada — all in the field of mechanical engineering.
Charles W. Kincaid has purchased the butcher shop of Larimore and Allfrey.
D. V. Seavers, founder of the Vevay News, which began publication four weeks ago, has disposed of his interest to E. H. Mead who will continue to operate the paper.
Little Joe Hollcraft had a narrow escape from drowning Friday, his third one this summer, when he fell from a coal barge. He was rescued by Marshal Kendall.
130 YEARS AGO
The gate keeper of the Vevay and Mt. Sterling turnpike collected $162.10.
The elder brother of Dr. B. F. Graves of Florence is visiting him after a separation of 40 years.
A little nine-year-old girl who gave her name as Maggie Flannery was found on the river bank Monday morning by Med Oakley. Her father, Martin Flannery of Newport, Kentucky, came for her Wednesday and reported that she had disappeared three weeks ago.
John Chatelin has purchased from W. A. Eddy and Co. of Louisville the steamer “Randolph”. He will use it to tow his coal barges on the Ohio and Kentucky rivers.
On July 9th a barn and its contents on the farm of A. A. Adams in Pleasant Township was destroyed by fire. It was thought to be work of an arsonist. On Tuesday the same thing happened at the farm of Joseph Clevenger near Vevay. Both losses were about $3,000.
151 YEARS AGO
A railroad meeting will be held in Vevay next week delegations from all neighboring communities and expected to attend.
On Wednesday and Thursday nights of last week Mrs. Dumont conducted an exhibition in Odd Fellows hall of her female academy and all of her pupils provided entertainment and recitations.